This study deals primarily with multi -unit residential development in the City of Gold Coast. The City of Gold Coast has been selected as an area for study because of its outstanding rate of growth I and the fact that, whilst unique in its position as a holiday City, it is probably the forerunner of many such holiday Cities on the temperate coast of Australia. Multi-unit residential development has been studied because it is the most obvious and most contentious building form in the City.

There are three objectives of this study.

The first objective is to determine why multi-unit residential developments are being constructed at a rapid rate in the City. The second objective is to list and evaluate existing controls and constraints used by the Local Authority to control and shape building development within the City.

The third objective is the most important. It is to propose alternatives to and improvements in the Local Authority planning controls.

It was found in the course of the study that the construction of multi -unit residential development in the City is a product of many factors including the historical development of the City, the age structure of the population and tourism. The trend towards construction of this particular building form is supported by market demand.

The planning controls currently used by the Local Authority were found largely to be inadequate and in some cases operating in a manner which led to in efficient and undesirable land use.

The improvements and alternatives to the existing planning control s which have been suggested are not revolutionary in concept. They are not meant to be. All suggestions made are those which could be accepted within the constraints of the Local Government Act and the constraints of a conservative Local Authority. The alternatives are sound, promote an efficient and desirable use of land and may be utilized by the Local Authority within its current planning framework.